Will Downing

2007 Power Awards National Honoree -- Will Downing



Will Downing

Just one note… and you instantly know “That Voice.” A voice that melts like warm chocolate syrup over his growing legion of adoring female fans, who will tell you that “no one sounds like Will Downing.” Uniquely gifted with an unmatched arsenal of velvet lows and silky falsetto highs, few can challenge the growing belief that this versatile crooner is the rightful heir to the Smooth R&B throne.

Blurring the line between jazz and classic soul in a musical era that often pushes style over substance, Will Downing has amassed a timeless body of work that has never forced his listeners to make that compromise. The consistent choice of classy style over flashy trends has fueled the success of a 12-album, two-decade career, with millions of albums sold in countries all over the world. Most of today’s performers would be fortunate to have a track record only half as long. As one of the lone surviving mature male vocalists in a youth-driven market, this Brooklyn native is at the top of his game and continues to expand his fan base with each new musical chapter.

Recognized by the Grammys and the NAACP Image Awards for his excellence on the stage and in the studio, Will Downing is becoming equally well known for his talents outside of the music industry. Unbeknownst to many of his listeners, Will is a noted and equally skilled photographer. His subjects of choice are his musical contemporaries, whom he captures live on stage or in candid moments behind the curtain.

A self-published coffee table book, Unveiled, was released in late 2005 and features Downing’s shutterbug alter ego.

Will Downing also gives back to the community through his role as a spokesperson for the American Stroke Association. Will's own grandmother suffered a stroke, and he has also been impacted by the passing of others such as Luther Vandross, Ron Isley and Coretta Scott King. An avid bowler, Will has found a way to help in the fight against stroke while enjoying this hobby. While touring, Downing often conducts a charity bowling event called “Strike Against Stroke” to raise funds for greater stroke awareness and education among African Americans, who are disproportionately affected by this devastating illness.

When he’s off the road, Will Downing retreats to his family in a quiet New Jersey township. It would appear he is poised to make a much bigger musical noise everywhere else and start to command the respect and recognition he so richly deserves.